Powers

The 1984 Powers List

The 1984 Basic Set defines powers in broad categories, with general guidance and the Judge's discretion filling in details. Compared to the 1986 Advanced Set's Ultimate Powers Book (a 700+ item catalog), the 1984 list is intentionally short — categories of effects, not a granular taxonomy.

A hero rolls randomly to determine number of powers (1–4 typically), then rolls again on Table 27 to pick which category and specific power. Some powers marked with an asterisk are "special" — one special power is worth two regular powers.

Resistances & Senses

• Resistance to Poison/Disease/Magic/Energy/Mental/Cold/Heat — withstand a specific attack type at the power's rank.
• Protected Senses — resist sensory overload attacks (loud noise, blinding light, etc.).
• Extraordinary Sense — one or more senses elevated above normal (e.g., Daredevil's radar sense).

Movement & Speed

• Lightning Speed — superhuman running speed; rank determines maximum distance per round.
• Flight — winged, jet-propelled, or otherwise; rank governs speed.
• Gliding — controlled descent without true flight.
• Wall-Crawling — surface adhesion regardless of orientation.
• Water Freedom — swimming and aquatic action at full effectiveness.
• Teleportation — instantaneous transport; failure can be lethal if teleporting into solid matter.
• Dimension Travel — crossing between planes of reality.

Nature Control

The hero manipulates one of the four elements (fire, water, earth, air), the weather, or a fundamental force. Power rank functions as Strength for the controlled medium. If used as an attack, damage equals the rank number; if used as a shield, armor rank equals the power rank.

• Fire Control
• Water Control
• Weather Control
• Energy Control
• Magnetic Control
• Electrical Control
• Light Control
• Sound Control
• Darkforce Generation/Control
• Gravity Control

Body Control

• Growth — increase physical size; Strength rank goes up with the rank shift.
• Shrinking — decrease physical size; harder to hit, lower carrying capacity.
• Density Control — alter mass and material density of the body.
• Phasing — pass through solid matter.
• Invisibility — be unseen by normal sight.
• Plasticity — stretch and reshape the body (Mister Fantastic, Plastic Man).
• Shape-Shifting * — assume the form of another creature or person.
• Body Transformation — permanent alteration of the body's substance.

Distance Attacks

• Hi-Tech Missile Weapon — built-in or carried tech weapon (Iron Man's repulsors, etc.).
• Ensnaring Missile Weapon — webs, nets, restraining beams.
• Mental Force — concussive psionic attack.
• Cold Missile Weapon — ice or freezing blasts.
• Energy Missile Weapon — general-purpose force/energy beams.
• Fire Missile Weapon — flame projection.
• Sound Missile Weapon — sonic blasts.
• Darkforce Missile Weapon — darkforce projection.

Mental Powers

• Telepathy — direct mind-to-mind communication.
• Image Generation * — project illusions.
• Telekinesis — move objects with the mind; rank functions as Strength.
• Mind Control * — direct another being's actions.
• Force Field Generation — project a protective barrier.
• Animal Communication/Control — speak with and command animals.

Body Alterations (Offensive)

• Extra Body Parts — additional limbs, eyes, etc.
• Extra Attacks — multiple attacks per round.
• Energy Touch — touch-range energy damage.
• Poisonous/Paralyzing Touch — toxin or paralysis delivered by contact.
• Claws — natural sharp weapons; treated as Hack & Slash.

Body Alterations (Defensive)

• Body Armor — natural or worn protection that reduces incoming damage.
• Regeneration — accelerated healing of damage.

Weapons, Vehicles, Sidekicks & Alter Egos

• Unique Weapon — a signature item (Cap's shield, Thor's hammer).
• Intelligent Weapon — a weapon with awareness or guidance.
• Unique Vehicle — a one-off mode of transport (the Fantasti-Car, etc.).
• Sidekick — a partner who fights at your side.
• Alter Ego — a separate persona with its own ranks (Bruce Banner / Hulk).

Limitations

Some heroes have powers limited in scope or duration. Common limitations (rolled or chosen during character generation):

• Power only works in specific conditions (sunlight, near water, etc.).
• Power requires a focus or device that can be lost or destroyed.
• Power has a side effect (fatigue, pain, alignment shift, etc.).
• Power triggers only by certain emotions or stimuli.